Electronic scale

ABSTRACT

An electronic scale integrally formed within the housing of computer keyboard. The scale includes an item holder which may be removably attached to a weighing unit mounted in a clearance region located at a rear portion of the keyboard housing. In operation, the weighing unit outputs weight measurement signals along signal lines to one of a variety of processing and/or display devices so that, for example, postage for the item being weighed may be calculated. The electronic scale may also be incorporated within a housing having an attachment device for removably or permanently attaching the housing to any surface desired.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/303,663, filed May 3, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,194,671.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to weighing systems, and moreparticularly to an electronic scale and a system and method which usesthe electronic scale to compute postal and private carrier rates forletters, packages, parcels, and other items of mail.

2. Description of the Related Art

Even with E-mail and other forms of electronic data transfer which areso prevalent today, traditional mail, either through the U.S. PostalService or by private carrier, remains the dominant form of informationexchange. In order to successfully send an item through the mail,correct postage must, of course, be computed. To determine postage, anumber of factors must be taken into consideration, not the least ofwhich include the class, destination, and weight of the item being sent.At least three methods are currently in use for determining the weightof mail, and as will be apparent below all of them fall short of beingoptimum.

The traditional method of weighing mail involves using an analog scale.According to this method, a letter is weighed on the scale and postageis then determined by comparing the scale measurement to a rate tableissued by a mail carrier. This method has proven to be inefficient,especially for businesses, because it is an entirely manual process. Tomail a letter, for example, a secretary is often required to go to amail room to access the scale and rate tables. In other instances, thescale is kept at the secretary's desk, making a trip to the mail roomunnecessary. Even under these circumstances, however, the process isinefficient because keeping the scale on the secretary's desk reducesher usable work space. Either way, the traditional method of computingpostage is inefficient.

An improved method of computing postage involves using an electronic,programmable postal meter. Electronic postal meters are highly favoredby businesses because they essentially automate the mailing process.While meters of this type come in varying sizes, from small stand-aloneunits to full-size systems capable of weighing packages of varyingweights and sizes, all have the same basic features: a keyboard forentering rate data into a meter memory, an electronic scale, and aprocessor for computing postage based on the stored rate data and weightmeasurements taken by the scale. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,724,245, 5,615,120,4,814,995, and D 305,103 disclose meters of this type.

In spite of their advantages, electronic postal meters have at leastthree drawbacks. First, postal meters cannot be bought but only rentedfor a fee. These rental fees contribute to operating expenses, andsometimes significantly depending upon the size of the renter.

Second, electronic postal meters require considerable maintenancebecause, one, the scales connected to the meters must be manuallyadjusted every time new postal rates are issued and, two, the metersmust be periodically inspected, serviced, and replaced, often atadditional expense to the renter.

Third, most electronic postal meters in use today are of a size which,in practical terms, are unsuitable for use on a worker's desk.Consequently, postal meters are almost universally kept in mail roomsand thus have associated with them many of the inefficiencies attendantto analog scales.

A further improved method of computing postage borrows from the power ofthe personal computer. This method eliminates the need for electronicpostal meters because the functions performed by the meter processor arereplaced by a CPU running a postal computation program. Computerprograms of this type, exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,507 to Kara,are typically Windows-type programs which automatically compute postagebased on weight measurements taken by an electronic scale connected to acommunications port of the computer. Once postage has been computed, theprogram instructs a peripheral device to print an envelope or labelbearing a stamp of appropriate value.

Use of a personal computer to compute postage represents a significantimprovement in the art. Through the computer, a secretary can, forexample, perform all mailing responsibilities at her desk, therebystreamlining the mailing process. Further, through a convenient andeasily understandable graphic user interface, novices can in no timelearn to use the postal program with a proficiency equal to that oftrained personnel. Also, because postal programs can be purchased, theydo not represent a continuing economic burden on the businesses whichuse them.

For all of their advantages, software-based mailing systems are notoptimum because they are not fully integrated. Perhaps mostsignificantly, while the processing functions of the electronic postalmeter have been incorporated into the personal computer, its hardwarecomponents have not. This is exemplified by systems like Kara, discussedabove, which still must use an electronic scale separate from thecomputer to obtain the weight measurements required for computingpostage. Use of a separate scale is inefficient because, like an analogscale, it consumes desk space which could be put to more productive use.

A need therefore exists for a system for computing postal and carrierrates which is fully integrated so that desk space is not unnecessarilyconsumed and which therefore is more convenient and efficient comparedwith postage-computing systems presently in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention to provide a system forcomputing postage and/or private carrier rates which is more efficientthan those presently in use.

It is another object of the present invention to achieve the aboveobject by integrally forming an electronic scale into the housing of acomputer keyboard, so that all elements for computing rates areconveniently and compactly located on a user's desk, therebystreamlining the mailing process and increasing the work space availableto an individual in a home or business environment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a an electronicscale having an attachment means for either permanently or removablyattaching the scale to virtually any surface, whether vertical orhorizontal, flat or curved, smooth or rough, to thereby improve aworker's usable space as well as his or her convenience of using thescale.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are achieved byproviding an electronic scale which, in a first embodiment, is builtinto the housing of a computer keyboard. The electronic scale includes aplatform for supporting an item of mail such as a letter, and a weighingunit having at least one support arm for transferring the weight of themail item from the platform to a load cell mounted within the keyboardhousing. In operation, an item to be mailed is placed on the platform.The weight of the letter causes the support art to impinge against theload cell, and resulting weight measurement signals are output to adisplay unit and/or a processor to allow a postage computation to beperformed. The load cell may be powered from electrical lines connectedto the keyboard, or may be battery powered.

A second embodiment of the present invention includes substantially thesame features as the first embodiment except that the platform isremovably connected to allow different types of platforms and holders tobe connected to the weighing unit.

A third embodiment of the present invention includes: a weighingplatform; a housing containing a weighing unit and a force transducer;and a means for attaching the housing to a work surface. The weighingunit includes two support members having a first end connected to theplatform and a second end mounted interior to the housing. The supportmembers may be provided with springs to allow the platform to deflectagainst the force transducer during weighing. The attachment means maybe of any conventional type for allowing the housing to eitherpermanently or removably attach to a work surface to thereby maximize aworker's usable work space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a sectional view of a first embodiment ofthe electronic scale of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a frontal view of the first embodiment ofthe scale.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are diagrams of alternative platforms/holders thatmay be used in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the electronic scaleof the present invention having a coupling member with holes foraccommodating removable platforms/holders.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the electronic scaleof the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an exemplary attachment means used to attach ahousing of the electronic scale shown in FIG. 5 to a work surface suchas a CRT monitor.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of another exemplary attachment means used to attacha housing of the electronic scale shown in FIG. 5 to a work surface suchas a CRT monitor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the electronic scaleof the present invention includes a platform 1 and a weighing unit 2integrated into clearance region 3 within a rear portion 4 of a keyboardhousing 5. The clearance region may be at least partially disposed undera keyboard printed wiring board 24 having switches 35 connected to keys36.

The platform is equipped with at least two side walls 6 to form acontainer 7 for holding items of mail. Preferably, container 7 hasdimensions sufficient to accommodate letters, envelopes, and packages ofvarying sizes.

Weighing unit 2 includes a pivot mount 9, a pivot arm 11, and a forcetransducer in the form of load cell 20 mounted on a stage 31. Pivotmount 9 is fixed to an interior surface 10 of the keyboard housing.Pivot arm 11 has a first end 12 rotatably connected to the pivot mountby a pin 32 and a second end 13 in contact with a bottom surface 14 ofthe platform through a slot 43 along a top surface of the keyboardhousing. Preferably, the pivot arm is constructed from two smaller armportions 16 and 17 which are angularly attached, e.g. at right angles,to form an elbow area 18.

Load cell 20 may be of any conventional type with a suitable weightcapacity. While the force transducer of the invention is specificallydescribed herein as a load cell, those skilled in the art can appreciatethat other types of force transducers, including digital or analog, maybe used. Further, load cell 20 may be powered by any conventional means.For example, load cell 20 may draw power from the electrical linesconnecting the keyboard to a CPU unit, or may be battery powered.

Projecting from the elbow area of arm 11 is a stub 19 located adjacentload cell 20, which is fixed to a raised interior surface of thekeyboard housing base 30. If desired, arm 11 may be upwardly biased sothat stub 19 does not contact load cell 20 when container 7 is empty, orarm 11 may be arranged so that stub 19 and load cell 20 are always incontact.

In operation, an item to be mailed, preferably enclosed within anenvelope or the like, is placed in container 7 by a user. The weight ofthe letter applies a force to pivot arm 11, which is transmitted to loadcell 20 through stub 19. Load cell 20 converts this force into weightmeasurement signals which are then conveyed through signal lines 22. Thesignal lines may carry the weight measurement signals to severallocations for processing and/or display. For example, signal lines maycarry the weight measurements signals from load cell 20 to an LCDdisplay. Alternatively, the signal lines may carry the weightmeasurement signals to the CPU of a personal computer for processing.

The weighing platform of the present invention may be removablyconnected to the pivot arm of the weighing unit by any meansconventionally known, so that platforms/holders 44 and 45 of othershapes and sizes such as shown respectively in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) maybe used. For example, in a second embodiment of the electronic scale ofthe present invention shown in FIG. 4, to accommodate a removableplatform/holder, the support arm end 13 may be fixed to a couplingmember 50 disposed outside the keyboard housing. The coupling member mayinclude holes 51 for receiving extensions 52 at the bottom of theplatform/holder to establish a snap fit connection.

Referring to FIG. 5, a third embodiment of the electronic scale 100 ofthe present invention includes a housing 105 and a platform 106connected to a weighing unit formed from two support shafts 110 and aload cell 115. If desired, platform 106 may be removably attached to theweighing unit in a manner analogous to that shown in FIG. 4 to allowattachment of different platforms/holders such as those shown in FIGS.3A and 3B.

Within the housing, load cell 115 is preferably fixed to a base 116 at aposition directly underneath a stub 117 projecting from a bottom surfaceof the platform. Holes 118 are formed in the base to provide clearancefor the shafts and thus to allow stub 117 to impinge against the loadcell when an item of mail is placed on the platform. Preferably, asshown, the support shafts are equipped with springs 107 to, for example,allow stub 117 to impinge upon the load cell and to give the platform apredetermined bias. Additional supports (not shown) may be included, asnecessary, for increasing the stability of the support shafts. Althoughnot shown, the load cell is connected to signal lines for carryingweight measurement signals either to a display (e.g., an LCD display) ora CPU for display on a computer screen and/or to be used in a postagecomputation.

In addition to these features, the electronic scale of the thirdembodiment is equipped with a means for attaching housing 105 tovirtually any vertical or horizontal surface, which may be a wall, akitchen appliance, an office area, or any other work surface where ascale is needed. The invention is particularly well suited forattachment to a piece of desk equipment (e.g., a CPU unit, a CRTmonitor, a printer, or a flat surface of a keyboard) to increaseworker's usable space.

The attachment means may be of any type conventionally known and isselected depending upon, for example, the shape, curvature, roughness,texture and other physical attributes of the attachment surface.Further, the attachment means may be selected to either permanently orremovably attach the housing to the surface desired.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show two exemplary types of attachment means of thepresent invention. In FIG. 6, housing 105 is shown as containing anadhesive 150 for fixing the housing to the vertical side surface of aCRT monitor. FIG. 6 also shows that platform 106 may be adapted, in themanner shown in FIG. 4, to accommodate a holder 109 for weighing items.In FIG. 7, housing 105 contains a plate 160 having flange portions 161on either side (only one of which is shown). The flange portions containat least one and preferably two holes 162 per flange for receivingscrews 163. Through the attachment means of the present invention, aworker can conveniently weigh items such as mail, documents, and thelike without consuming desk space. Further, the worker can remove thehousing and place it at another location or another surface (e.g., aslide out drawer of a desk) for ease and convenience of use.

The Inventor of the present invention emphasizes that the attachmentmeans shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are only illustrative of the invention. Asone skilled in the art can appreciate, other attachment devices such asclamps, clips, pins, nails, fasteners, cables, dowels, hooks, joints,latches, bands, rope, snaps, lugs, rivets, velcro, bonding agents,suction cups, and magnets for attachment to metal surfaces can just aseasily be used.

Other modifications and variations to the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. Thus, while onlycertain embodiments of the invention have been specifically describedherein, it will be apparent that numerous modifications may be madethereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A weighing arrangement, comprising: a platform; ahousing which includes a force transducer, said force transduceroutputting a weight signal corresponding to a weight of an item whensaid item is placed on said platform; a means for attaching saidhousing; and a display for a personal computer, said means attachingsaid housing to said display, wherein said attaching means is the solemeans of supporting said housing.
 2. The weighing arrangement of claim1, further comprising: a support for said platform, said supporttransferring the weight of said item to said force transducer.
 3. Theweighing arrangement of claim 1, wherein said force transducer has asensitivity range for weighing items of mail.
 4. The weighingarrangement of claim 1, wherein said attaching means removably attachessaid housing to said display.
 5. The weighing arrangement of claim 1,wherein said attaching means attaches said housing to said display in amanner which makes said platform immediately accessible for weighingsaid item.
 6. A weighing arrangement, comprising: a platform; a housingwhich includes a force transducer, said force transducer outputting aweight signal corresponding to a weight of an item when said item isplaced on said platform; a fastener; and a display for a personalcomputer, said fastener attaching said housing to said display andsolely supporting said housing.
 7. The weighing arrangement of claim 6,further comprising: a support for said platform, said supporttransferring the weight of said item to said force transducer.
 8. Theweighing arrangement of claim 6, wherein said force transducer has asensitivity range for weighing items of mail.
 9. The weighingarrangement of claim 6, wherein said fastener removably attaches saidhousing to said display.
 10. The weighing arrangement of claim 6,wherein said fastener attaches said housing to said display in a mannerwhich makes said platform immediately accessible for weighing said item.11. A method for weighing an item, comprising: attaching an electronicscale to a display of a personal computer, said electronic scaleincluding a platform and a force transducer; placing an item on saidplatform to cause said platform to apply a force to said forcetransducer; and outputting a signal from said force transducerindicative of a weight of said item, wherein said attaching stepincludes attaching the electronic scale in a manner which results in theelectronic scale being solely supported by said display of the personalcomputer.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: displaying theweight of said item on said display.
 13. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: displaying the weight of said item on an LCD display.
 14. Aweighing arrangement, comprising: a platform; a housing which includes aforce transducer, said force transducer outputting a weight signalcorresponding to a weight of an item when said item is placed on saidplatform; a fastener; and a CPU for a personal computer, said fastenerattaching said housing to said CPU and solely supporting said housing.15. The weighing arrangement of claim 14, wherein said fastenerremovably attaches said housing to said CPU.
 16. A weighing arrangement,comprising: a platform; a housing which includes a force transducer,said force transducer outputting a weight signal corresponding to aweight of an item when said item is placed on said platform; a means forattaching said housing; and a CPU for a personal computer, said meansattaching said housing to said CPU and being the sole means ofsupporting said housing.
 17. A weighing arrangement, comprising: aplatform; a housing which includes a force transducer, said forcetransducer outputting a weight signal corresponding to a weight of anitem when said item is placed on said platform; a fastener; and aprinter, said fastener attaching said housing to said printer and solelysupporting said housing.
 18. The weighing arrangement of claim 17,wherein said fastener removably attaches said housing to said printer.19. A weighing arrangement, comprising: a platform; a housing whichincludes a force transducer, said force transducer outputting a weightsignal corresponding to a weight of an item when said item is placed onsaid platform; a means for attaching said housing; and a printer, saidmeans attaching said housing to said printer and being the sole means ofsupporting said housing.
 20. A weighing arrangement, comprising: aplatform; a housing which includes a force transducer, said forcetransducer outputting a weight signal corresponding to a weight of anitem when said item is placed on said platform; a fastener; and akeyboard for a personal computer, said fastener attaching said housingto said keyboard and solely supporting said housing.
 21. The weighingarrangement of claim 20, wherein said fastener is the sole attaches saidhousing to said keyboard.
 22. A weighing arrangement, comprising: aplatform; a housing which includes a force transducer, said forcetransducer outputting a weight signal corresponding to a weight of anitem when said item is placed on said platform; a means for attachingsaid housing; and a keyboard for a personal computer, said meansattaching said housing to said keyboard and being the sole means ofsupporting said housing.
 23. A method for weighing an item, comprising:attaching an electronic scale to a CPU of a personal computer, saidelectronic scale including a platform and a force transducer; placing anitem on said platform to cause said platform to apply a force to saidforce transducer; and outputting a signal from said force transducerindicative of a weight of said item, wherein said attaching stepincludes attaching the electronic scale in a manner which results in theelectronic scale being solely supported by the CPU of the personalcomputer.
 24. A method for weighing an item, comprising: attaching anelectronic scale to a keyboard of a personal computer, said electronicscale including a platform and a force transducer; placing an item onsaid platform to cause said platform to apply a force to said forcetransducer; and outputting a signal from said force transducerindicative of a weight of said item wherein said attaching step includesattaching the electronic scale in a manner which results in theelectronic scale being solely supported by the keyboard of the personalcomputer.
 25. A method for weighing an item, comprising: attaching anelectronic scale to a printer, said electronic scale including aplatform and a force transducer; placing an item on said platform tocause said platform to apply a force to said force transducer; andoutputting a signal from said force transducer indicative of a weight ofsaid item, wherein said attaching step includes attaching the electronicscale in a manner which results in the electronic scale being solelysupported by said printer.